Sacrifice: James Shaw Jr. waves to the crowd and legislators inside the House chambers as he was honored for disarming a shooter inside an Antioch Waffle House Tuesday April 24, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Larry McCormack / The Tennessean

James Shaw Jr. greets Waffle House shooting victims' family members during the hearing on the mental health of Travis Reinking in criminal court Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Lacy Atkins / The Tennessean

Actress Ashley Judd meets refugees in Juba, South Sudan, Thursday, June 28, 2018. In her first visit to civil war-torn South Sudan, Ashley Judd had a message for survivors of sexual assault in a country where rape is a widespread weapon. "I see you, I love you and I'm here for you," she said in an interview with The Associated Press. Sam Mednick / AP

Charity is in the eye of the beholder, eh? The late-night comics give their views on the Trump Foundation that is being forced to dissolve, thanks to a New York state investigation, http://bit.ly/2GusWPh USA TODAY

President Donald Trump has threatened to shut down the government if he doesn't get money for his border wall, but maybe the money needs to go toward language instruction instead, the late-night comics say, http://bit.ly/2R8r3eY USA TODAY

The "Real Housewives of D.C." may not have been the most popular in the television series franchise, but that didn't stop the real politicians of D.C. from recreating the show's drama during a meeting that was originally supposed to be closed door, the late-night comics say, http://bit.ly/2GcoN2j USA TODAY

The Sexual Assault Center helps victims of sexual abuse receive the help they need, from counseling to rape kits to educating bar owners to use coasters that can detect when drinks get drugged.

SAC President and CEO Rachel Freeman recently wrote in a guest column about why rape victims, especially women, do not report the crimes against them: “Now, as our nation grapples with understanding the lifelong trauma perpetrated by rape and attempted rape and speculates about victims who may take years to come forward, it is imperative to be well-informed about the realities of sexual assault.”

At the same, The YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee also makes Tennessee and Nashville safer for women and girls by offering them shelter, services and programs.

This state is fifth of 50 in the rate in which men kill women.

In a recent guest column, YWCA President and CEO Sharon Roberson wrote an impassioned plea for Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act: “All survivors of gender-based violence should have access to services and programs to help them recover, heal, and rebuild their lives.”

Another important program is AMEND Together, which began under Roberson’s predecessor Pat Shea, and works to eliminate toxic masculinity in boys and young men so they will treat women and girls with respect.

Organizations including the Nashville Predators have joined the effort.

Civility is a citizen’s role in improving society and tackling tough issues.

That is why The Tennessean Editorial Board names Ashley Judd, the Sexual Assault Center of Middle Tennessee and the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee the People of the Year in the Civility category.

Opinion and Engagement Editor David Plazas wrote this editorial on behalf of The Tennessean Editorial Board whose members comprise Editor Michael Anastasi, Executive Editor Maria De Varenne and Plazas. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or tweet to him at @davidplazas.